Automatic spot in last 16 helped the Cityzens avoid some extra load to their fixture schedule
Manchester City beat Galatasaray and then were handed a big boost after Benfica defeated Real Madrid, allowing Pep Guardiola’s side to sneak into a place in the top eight.
It means they avoid a double-legged playoff tie in February, which would have placed added strain on a squad already reeling from injury troubles. But there was still some frustration after Jeremy Doku was forced off in the first half.
“Overall we’re very happy because we avoid two games,” captain Bernardo Silva said. “With the schedule it’s really important to do that. We need also to recover some players to arrive in the last months of the season.
“With the schedule, with the amount of injuries we have at the minute, to have those two full weeks to prepare the team, to recover some players, to focus on other competitions for now is going to be really good.”
Guardiola echoed his captain’s comments.
“We’re really pleased to finish top eight considering how the Champions League has become,” City’s coach said. “When I started 16 or 17 years ago, qualification was not as difficult. Today, every team is really, really tough.
“Considering how many of the top teams are out of the top eight we know how difficult it is. With not winning in Norway [against Bodo/Glimt], it was difficult.”
Erling Haaland was restored to the starting lineup after being rested against Wolves due to exhaustion, and the Norwegian scored in open play for the first time in nine games. Rayan Cherki doubled the lead later in the first half, but then City lost control for much of the second period, although they managed to keep Galatasaray out.
“The first half was better than the second, but in the second half there were more chances than the first,” said Guardiola. “We have a lot of things to improve.”
